AWH Architects collaborated with New Rules to breathe new life into the abandoned Speedway gas station site on Lowry Avenue in North Minneapolis. New Rules, a development collective headquartered on Lowry Avenue, specializes in revitalizing neglected buildings, particularly in marginalized communities, transforming them into vibrant community hubs for innovation, culture, and conversation.

In partnership with the New Rules team, AWH aimed to design a versatile space capable of meeting the diverse needs of the community while emphasizing the universal appeal of good food and drink as social catalysts. The 2200 square foot former gas station now boasts a commercial kitchen connected to a spacious main hall, adaptable to various functions. By day, it functions as a cozy coffee house, transitioning into a craft cocktail bar by night and available for private events on weekends. Enhancing the site's versatility, the team incorporated a deck adjacent to the original structure, flanked by a repurposed shipping container. During warmer months, this outdoor area doubles as a performance space, with the container serving as an additional food or bar service station.

The transformation of the boarded-up Speedway gas station signifies a departure from years of neglect and disinvestment, serving as a beacon of community revitalization and empowerment. AWH is honored to have played a part in realizing New Rules' vision of creating a distinctive venue for social engagement and activism in North Minneapolis.